SIPRESS SCOOP

Sadly I have actually experienced the loss of a number of friends & family members over the years.   We have all seen the Lion King; it is simply “The circle of Life”.   But this is the first time, in my ADULT life, that I have loss someone who meant so much to me, my childhood, my character, my soul.   I don’t have a single happy childhood or holiday memory that doesn’t include my Grandma Rosalie.   I was a lucky only grandchild with the exception of my deceased brother, Shawn.     Anyone who knows me knows that I’m close with my family & this loss has hit us hard, I find myself realizing that I have to find a new normal & that things will never be the exactly the same.   ~A few of my 30 years of MEMORIES~ When I was younger my Mother & I spent the night before any holiday at my Grandma’s house.   Easter we dyed eggs, woke up to beautiful dresses, hats & our version of baskets (wagon, cabbage patch strollers, makeup case). ...

Before December began we had decided to hold off on Christmas until after Josie’s Birthday, we had even decided to do everything from the 15 th on to celebrate with the “Sipress 12 days of Christmas”.   We ran out of energy and money before we could do every little activity we had discussed but did manage to enjoy a ton of festive holiday activities.   Although ice skating & caroling may come to mind when you think of seasonal activities, with two young kids we spent a few evenings watching holiday films & reading Christmas themed children’s books as a family.   However, after witnessing Issac’s excitement every time we drove by a minivan with a tree strapped to the top we decided to get our Christmas tree on Sunday the 11 th .   We wanted to revisit the spot we went last year so we drove out Highway 18 to Black Diamond to purchase our tree from a local “you cut tree farm”.   It was a chilly evening but we bundled up & had a great time.   They ...